Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Any menu ideas for an elegant baby shower brunch?

I'm hosting a shower on a Saturday at 1:30pm. I thought a brunch would be elegant, but the mom-to-be wants finger foods and nothing too heavy. Any ideas?|||A few years ago my friend had a really elegant baby shower brunch at a highend hotel





i remember having lots of fresh fruit, mini muffins, veggies of course, there were mini waffles and cheese and cracker plates. diff. kinds of breads. there was also a green salad and shrimp cocktail





a few diff. kinds of juices, coffee tea and they even offered mimosas|||Another idea for the tortilla rolls that someone brought up - we call them pinwheels, and you take one 8 oz package cream cheese, soften it, add 1 package ranch dip mix, mix it, and spread it over about 4 large tortillas (use the many flavored tortillas out there to add even more flavor and color, like Sun Dried Tomato Basil and the green one, which I think is either Spinach or Vegetable). Roll them up tightly and put in the fridge for about an hour. Then cut them into about 1/2"-1" pieces.|||FIrst of all, do what it easiest for you since you are the one doing the work. When you do finger foods buffet, you still have to put out forks and plates for the guests to eat them with and all those little individual servings require MUCH more detail and attention than just putting out 3 or 4 casserole type dishes for serve yourself brunch. Unless you are hiring waitresses to walk around and serve people bite size crudites on silver platters and have 5 people to help you assemble all your last minute hot finger foods, throw that idea out the window! :)


My favorite brunch menu:


1) smoked salmon platter with mini bagels, capers, cream cheese and lemons


2) smoked ham quiche or fritatta


3) some type of store bought pastries


4) fresh fruit with yogurt or whipped cream for dipping


5) baked pork tenderloins sliced thin, accompanied by dollar rolls and a jar of fancy mustard or sandwhich spread for do it yourself sandwiches|||crepes|||my mom had hers at one of those Japanese resteraunts where they cook the food in front of you. It was pretty cool. But, my sis had hers in her back yard and that was very dull. Definetly a nice resteraunt. Resteraunts have plenty of appetizers to accomidate the finger foods.|||~*~Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Honey~*~


http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/…


~*~Cabrales Phyllo Rolls with Sherry Dipping Sauce~*~


http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/food-and-w…


~*~Mini Mushroom and Sausage Quiches~*~


http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/eatingwell…


~*~Sesame Chicken Strips with Sweet Sauce~*~


http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/allrecipes…


~*~Broiled Lemon and Garlic Tiger Prawns~*~


http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/allrecipes…|||Mini muffins and bagels, juices. coffee. large fruit bowl and quiche cut into bite size pieces should do.|||Finger foods, brunch, and elegant... Canapes are your best bet, and serve a good punch since Mimosas aren't fair for the mum to be. Try some of these.|||Mini quiches and fruit with a dip. I like a dip that uses pineapple juice, sugar and cornstarch. You cook that until it's thick, then process it with cream cheese and cool whip. Really good with strawberries|||Here is Baby Shower Etiquette


Timing of the Baby Shower





When is it too early and when could it be too late? Planning a baby shower is an exciting undertaking that usually results in a lot of "oooohing" and "aaaahing", but you want to be sure that baby is on his or her way - no more, no less. It is safe to schedule the baby shower anywhere between 1 and 3 months before the baby is due. Check with the mother-to-be on her availability and how she is feeling. Some pregnant mothers have better months than others. It's also wise not to schedule the shower too close to the baby's due date, since the baby may arrive early and the mother-to-be may not feel very energetic as her due date approaches. This also allows plenty of time for the parents-to-be to determine what items they need and want, and to complete a baby registry if they desire.





It is also perfectly acceptable (and in some communities, expected) to plan the baby shower for after the baby arrives. Called a “welcoming shower,” it takes the guesswork out of colors and styles for clothing, and can be a wonderful way to introduce the baby to friends and family. It also allows out of town friends and relatives a chance to attend the shower, celebrate with the family and meet the baby all in one visit. When in doubt, ask the mother-to-be when they'd like the party to be held.





Once you have a date, the fun begins with planning the details of the shower as there are many types of baby showers that can be thrown. You can have a family only, female only, couples, coworkers etc. and you can pick almost any theme.





Hosting a Baby Shower





Baby showers are traditionally hosted by a close friend of the expectant couple, but showers may also be hosted by relatives, co-workers, fellow parishioners, neighbors, etc. Because the person that plans and invites the guests to the baby shower is the one responsible for paying it is usually considered her gift.





There is no one perfect place to host a baby shower. If you have a home large enough to accommodate all of the guests, then that may be the best option. What is most important is to pick a location where the mother would be most comfortable.





Multiple Hosts





If a baby shower is being hosted by more than one person, it is traditional to list the person’s name, at whose home the shower will be held, first when referring to the hosts, then the other hosts in alphabetical order. For example, if the baby shower is being held at Julie's home but Sarah and Jennifer are co-hosting, the hosts would be listed as follows on the invitation:





(Casual, small baby shower gathering)





Julie, Jennifer, and Sarah





invite you to help welcome the birth of





Tami's child with a





Baby Shower at





Julie's home on





Saturday, August 1st





12 o’clock noon





10048 Northeast 2 nd Street





Bellevue , Washington





For more formal, larger gatherings where the baby shower is being held at a location other than a person's home, list the hosts in alphabetical order:





You are cordially invited to a





Baby Shower





in honor of mother-to-be





Tami Williams





Saturday, the first of August





at twelve o’clock noon





Bellevue Yacht Club





One Lake Washington Drive





Hosted by Jennifer, Julia and Sarah





Choosing a Theme





Selecting a theme for the baby shower may seem daunting at first, but it needn't be elaborate. The theme can range anywhere from "everything in baby blue" to "butterflies and dragonflies" to "New York Giants football." Another fun baby shower theme could be “Mothering around the clock” where guests are asked to purchase a gift that would be appropriate for the time of day tucked within their baby shower invitation. If a guest receives 12:00 noon, they may choose to buy bottles or something for feeding time.





Other fun baby shower themes to keep in mind…. Playtime (gifts for games and educational toys), Baby Safety (gifts to keep baby safe), Pamper Mommy (gifts to help take care of mommy, too), Nursery (anything to do with nursery rhymes), Alphabet (each guests gets a letter of the alphabet – B = bottles, bunnies etc)





If the mother-to-be has decided on a decorative design for the nursery, the theme of the baby shower can reflect that design and provide a hint to guests what colors or themes to keep in mind while shopping for the perfect gift. Whatever the chosen theme, the host can build upon it when choosing baby shower invitations, coordinating decorations, napkins, plates, favors, games to be played, and even the food to be served.





Since the baby shower invitations set the tone of your event, the invitations you select should convey that theme to your guests. Some guests may even incorporate your theme with their baby shower gift. There are so many baby shower invitations (please link) at MyGatsby.com to choose from, you may even want to base your theme on your favorite invitation.





Selecting the Invitation





The baby shower invitations will be the first hint for the guests of what the theme of the baby shower will be. If the expectant couple has found out the sex of the baby, choosing an invitation in pink (or one with pink accents) will undoubtedly announce that they're expecting a girl. The invitation will also tell the guest how formal of an event the baby shower will be – an elegant typeface with formal wording and location alerts the guest that the shower will be a sophisticated event; conversely, a whimsical invitation with informal wording and at a friend’s home tells the guest the baby shower will be a casual affair. A formal invitation should be accompanied by a separate RSVP card and stamped envelope for the guest to respond with; a casual invitation might include the increasingly common "Regrets Only" phrase with a telephone number and/or email address.





If mom and dad already have a name picked out for the newborn and are comfortable with telling people the name, you are more then welcome to use it on your baby shower invitations.





To help the expectant mother respond in gratitude for all the gifts she has received at the baby shower, have each guest address an envelope with their information. Drop all of the envelopes in a bowl and draw a winner for a prize. The guests are eligible for a gift and the mother-to-be has half of the note writing process complete!





As a gift to the expectant mother, order coordinating thank you notes. They'll make the process of thanking the guests much easier, and she'll be reminded of the care you took in planning and hosting the baby shower with each note that she writes.





Who to Invite





When creating a guest list for a baby shower, it is best to ask the mother for a list of whom she would like to invite or at least have her look over a list you have created. Some mothers may want to have a smaller more intimate shower while others will want to celebrate with all of their friends and family. If you are a coworker wishing to throw a “coworkers” shower, then you shouldn’t be expected to invite her family or friends outside of work.





Wording for Baby Shower Invitations





Here are some ideas from the MyGatsby Word Wizard to help you create wording for your baby shower invitations:








Wording for Baby Shower Invitations


Wording for Baby Shower Invitations - Multiple Births





Adoption





Parents who are adopting a child have the same needs as those having a child of their own, and they will appreciate the generosity of friends and family just as much. A baby shower can be thrown for a child of any age – if the child is a toddler, the host may choose to call the party just a "shower" or a "welcome party." It's recommended that a shower for an adopted child be held after the child has been brought home. When selecting the wording for the invitation, state when the child was born and when the child was welcomed into the home of the parents:





Please join us





as we celebrate the arrival of





Jessica Lynn





Born January 18, 2004





and welcomed into her parent's hearts and home





on April 4, 2004





Listing the birth date of the child alerts guests to the child's clothing size and provides guidance for buying age-appropriate gifts. If the child was adopted from a foreign country, information about his or her birth country may also be included





Please join us





as we celebrate our daughter’s arrival





Jessica Lynn





who has come from Romania





to join our family





Born January 18, 2004





and welcomed into her parent's hearts and home





on April 4, 2004





Choosing a Day and Time





There is no standard day or time for hosting a baby shower, although most are held in the evening or on weekends so that working friends and family are able to attend. The chosen theme may influence the timing of the event (a tea party should be held in the afternoon), as may the location (a baby shower hosted by co-workers in an office conference room should be held at or close to the end of a business day). The expectant mother may have a preference about the time: if she's still experiencing morning sickness, she may request that the shower be held in the late afternoon or early evening when she's typically feeling well.





Directions and Maps





Regardless of the formality of the baby shower, all baby shower invitations should include detailed directions for getting to the shower and a map that clearly shows where the shower will be held. Be sure to include the address and a phone number for directions on the direction card in case that’s the only part of the invitation they grab on the way out of the door. Select a paper color and style that complements the invitations.





Enclosures and Baby Registries





Registering for baby supplies, clothing, and even furniture is becoming increasingly common. Since the word “shower” infers “showering the mother with gifts,” it is okay to indicate on an enclosure card included with the baby shower invitations where the parents-to-be have registered. An Example for Registry wording could be: "Betsy and James have completed a registry at _________." It is also acceptable to include the pre-made invitation enclosures that some stores provide. It is not appropriate to include a list of desired items. You may also opt to inform guests where the mother is registered when they RSVP to the event.





When to Mail Invitations





Whether you are throwing the baby shower before or after the baby’s due date the baby shower invitations should be sent 4-6 weeks before the shower date giving your guests time to mark their calendars, pick out the perfect gift and enjoy and afternoon with the mother-to-be! If the shower is being held close to a holiday or during the summer months, mail the invitations five or six weeks in advance.





Surprise Baby Shower





Almost everyone loves a surprise, and (most) expectant mothers are no different. Planning a surprise baby shower for the mother-to-be allows her to have absolutely no role in the preparations – all she can do is enjoy the festivities! Of course, if the mother-to-be is the type of person that doesn't like surprises, it is best plan the baby shower with her knowledge.





If you are throwing a surprise baby shower, there are several ways to include that information on your baby shower invitations. “Mother knows that baby is on her way… but she doesn’t know we’re showering her with gifts for baby to play!” You can also start out with, “Shhh, It’s a Surprise!”





The Couples Baby Shower





In recognition of the father's involvement in the life of the child, many baby showers are co-ed. When planning a couples’ baby shower, it's important to make sure that the theme of the party and any planned activities are inclusive, enjoyable, and engaging to both men and women. Men are less likely to wear a pacifier around their neck or gaggle over bonnets and bassinets. Be sure the expectant father would like to be included in the baby shower and if so, plan a game he would enjoy. One such game is to ask the father what he thinks baby’s favorite sport will be and other such questions. Then ask the guests to guess what father picked. The one who guesses the same as father wins!





Second and Third Babies





Baby showers are typically not thrown for women expecting their second or third child, primarily because it is presumed that the mother will already have many of the essential items typically given at baby showers. However, the birth of every child is cause for celebration. Instead of a large gathering focused around the giving of gifts, plan a small get-together of close friends that centers around an activity (such as pampering manicures and pedicures) or enjoying a new or favorite restaurant. Guests may choose to bring a token gift if they like. If the parents insist they do not need any gifts you can word your baby shower invitations as such. Simply print, “No gifts, please,” at the bottom of the invitations. Your wording could also read “Please shower us with the gift of your presence…”





Gay and Lesbian Couples





More and more gay and lesbian couples are choosing to have children, either through adoption or, in the case of lesbian couples, by one of the women giving birth. The guidelines for throwing a baby shower for a gay or lesbian couple are generally the same as they are for a heterosexual couple or single mother, with the exception of the "in honor of" wording on the invitation. For gay and lesbian couples, it is appropriate to list both of the parent's names on the invitation.





Grandparent's Baby Shower





Although not as elaborate or as common as the baby showers thrown for expectant mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers frequently are the focus of celebratory gatherings among close friends or colleagues. For these showers, the gifts are given to the grandmother or grandfather but may be meant for either the expectant mother or the new baby. Gifts may also be intended to stay at grandma or grandpa's house for when the child visits: bassinet, activity rocker, books, toys, etc.





Getting Situated





Name tags are a great way for people to feel comfortable at a large baby shower or one where the guests may not know one another. You can print the tags with the theme of the shower or have guests draw their own duck or rattle on their name tag.





The baby shower host will be busy with many details the day of the shower, but it is important to have everything ready when guests begin to arrive. The host should greet guests at the door, welcome them to the event and give them direction as to where to put their purse and get settled.





When planning the seating arrangements at a baby shower, make sure you have enough seating for everyone invited and be sure to set aside a comfortable chair for the expectant mother. Ask someone to be in charge of passing the gifts to the mother and someone else to keep track of who they are from. You will be the hostess with the “mostess” if you have that arranged for her!





Depending on how many guests are invited to the baby shower, the hostess should make sure that the celebration stays in motion. Make sure that the games, eating, gift opening etc. are somewhat scheduled so that the baby shower is a festive celebration and not a drawn out weekend afternoon.





Baby Shower Gifts





Even if you are hosting a baby shower with a lot of guests, it is important that time be allowed for gift opening. The shower is to help prepare the parents for their new baby and many people go to quite a bit of trouble to elaborately wrap the perfect gift. Guests are looking forward to seeing the look on the expectant mother’s face upon opening their gift and will feel appreciated hearing in person how much it is liked. It is also fun for the rest of the guests to see all of the items that the mother has received – isn’t that the fun of baby showers?





Many things expectant parents will need for their baby are expensive and otherwise out of guests’ price range. One helpful thing a hostess can do is to suggest a gift that several guests can purchase together. Guests will be able to afford something special and the expectant parents can receive the car seat or crib to keep their child safe.





Games





Playing games at the baby shower is a wonderful way to break the ice and encourage guests to get to know one another. Having a quiz about the expectant mother is a great way for guests to learn more about her: Who was the first person she told that she was pregnant? How many weeks pregnant is she? Did she and the father agree on a boy's or girl's name first? Another traditional baby shower game doubles as a gift for the expectant mother: fill a tray with a number of different baby items, set it in the middle of the room for a minute or two, then take it away and ask guests to write down as many of the items as they can remember. Or orchestrate a taste test contest of baby food – you may be surprised at what you can and cannot identify! Offer small prizes to the winners.





Don’t be afraid to use the baby shower invitations as an introduction to the game playing at the shower. Ask them to bring a baby photo to the shower and play a game trying to match the baby photo to each guest. There are all sorts of ways you can get them to participate in the fun.





Games at a baby shower are great ice breakers, however check with the mother-to-be before planning any games as she may feel differently. The mother may just prefer the guests sign in a guest book over playing any games. To put a spin on the guest book, you could have each guest create a baby shower scrapbook page and place the photos in later.





Favors





Giving guests a favor at the end of the baby shower serves as a small token of appreciation for their gift and for their involvement in the celebration. Favors can be as simple or as elaborate as desired and can range from a small bag of candies tied with ribbon to a picture frame. Bubbles wrapped with a custom label are another cute keepsake. The choice of the favor can be an extension of the baby shower theme, or can be something general like a fragrant bar of soap.





Expectant mothers should be sure to thank each guest as they leave the baby shower. Having the favors near the door is a perfect way to gather before everyone leaves and gives the mother a chance to say goodbye to everyone who attended.





Food and Beverage





Because friends and family will be mingling and visiting during the baby shower, appetizer and finger foods are generally served. However, it is perfectly appropriate to serve a meal appropriate to the time of day, especially if you are hosting the event at a country club tea room. Even if you are serving mostly finger food, be sure there is enough seating and tables for your guests to sit down and eat. Many people come dressed to a baby shower in a nice outfit that they wouldn’t want decorated with deviled eggs or frosting. For beverages, it is most traditional to serve a delicious punch and/or tea. Alcoholic beverages are not usually appropriate as the mother-to-be will be left out, although cocktail parties have been thrown on occasion instead of a traditional baby shower.





When planning the menu for a baby shower, you should take into consideration the time of day that shower will be occurring. If your guests are arriving at 11:00 am, they will be expecting to have brunch or lunch served at the event. If your baby shower invitations indicate 2:00 pm as the commencement hour, light appetizers and punch would be appropriate.





Potlucks are a fun way to allow friends and family to be involved in the baby shower and to relieve some of the costs. You can create a menu from which people can pick the dish they would like to make or you can ask everyone to make their signature dish.





Hostess Gifts





Hostess gifts are a common gesture of thanks given by the guests or guest of honor to the host. In the case of baby showers, the mother-to-be is not expected to give a hostess gift to the hostess. If the mother-to-be would like to give a gift to the hostess, a bouquet of flowers or a small token of your appreciation would be appropriate.





Here are some menus:





Baby Shower Menu Idea


All the following baby shower menu and Brunch ideas can be found in our baby shower e-book with descriptive pictures. This is only a ssample of the information that we supply in our ebook.





Every baby shower should have a special cake. You can purchase cakes from your local grocery store or bakery, order one online, or make the cake yourself.











By serving food, you create an environment that is relaxing and comfortable. The guests can gather around and mingle while enjoying a full sit down meal or simple finger foods. No matter which option you choose, the treats are what make the baby shower complete.





Typically, you would see foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables with some type of dip, finger sandwiches, nuts, cake, and punch or some type of beverage. Now, you can create whatever type of menu you like but you want primarily food that will appeal to the average person. We will first provide some ideas for regular foods and beverages, followed by amazing but easy to make baby cakes.





FRUITS AND VEGETABLES


Melon Bowl


Baby showers held in the summertime are perfect occasions for fresh melon. While fruit salads are excellent options, you can step it up a notch by creating a festive mellow bowl. For this, you will need a large seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew.





Start by cutting the watermelon lengthwise about one-quarter of the way from the top. Then, use a melon ball to scoop out the insides. Place the formed balls in a bowl and place them in the refrigerator while you finish the melon bowl.





Smooth out the center and then drain off any juice. You can leave the edges of the watermelon flat or use a serrated knife to create a zigzag design. Next, cut the cantaloupes and honey dews in half, removing the seeds. Again, use your melon ball to create balls from the insides. Add these balls to the bowl of watermelon and chill.





Then, gently toss the various types of melon balls together to make a beautiful colored array of melon and place the balls back into the watermelon. If you like, you can add miniature marshmallows, strawberries, raisins, pineapple, oranges, apples, etc. Chill until ready to serve.





Veggie Platters


Many people enjoy munching on fresh vegetables while at a baby shower. This type of food is something that can be enjoyed throughout the event and it is healthy. Veggie platters are extremely easy to make.





Simply purchase cut up carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. For dip, you can use bottled ranch salad dressing or any prepared type of dip you like. For a nice presentation, arrange the tray with varying colored vegetables, placing the dip in the center.





FINGER FOODS


Tortilla Rolls


This appetizer is always popular and can be made in a number of ways. Some people will choose to offer tortilla rolls in place of finger sandwiches although they also make a great additional treat.





To make this food, you will need large flour tortillas, chopped green chilies, chopped green onion, soft cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Mix all of the ingredients except the tortillas.





Spread the mixture on top of the flour tortilla, making sure it is the same thickness all around and spread out to the edges. Then, roll the tortilla up and slice in one-inch pieces. Arrange the tortilla rolls on a plate, adding a small dish of chili power seasoned sour cream and another dish of salsa for dipping.





The nice thing about tortilla rolls is that you can make them of anything you like. For instance, you could use sour cream, dill, and salmon, chicken and chesses, humus and vegetables, and even fresh fruit and cream cheese rolls.





FOOD TIPS


Since this type of shower usually involves a pregnant woman or one that is nursing, not all foods and beverages are acceptable. The following are a few tips of things to consider when create the menu.





When possible, use soft cheeses such as Camembert and Brie. The reason is that soft cheese is not as acidic as hard cheese. Because of this, less moisture is held, greatly reducing the potential for harmful bacteria. Since Listeria is a problem with hard cheese that could put an unborn baby at risk, you want to avoid them.





Pregnant women should not eat more than 12 ounces of fish within a week’s time due to mercury levels. Therefore, if you plan to serve fish, avoid King Mackerel, Tuna, Tile Fish, Swordfish, and Shark. If you want to serve fish, you would do best by serving saltwater fish instead of freshwater fish.





Always make sure any meat is cooked completely to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. Although Sushi is delicious, this is not a dish for pregnant or nursing moms.





Prior to setting the menu, ask the mother-to-be if she is allergic to any foods.





Some pregnant women become nauseated with certain foods, which varies from one pregnancy to another. Therefore, always find out if the expectant mother has any foods that upset her stomach.





Avoid serving alcohol at the baby shower.





OR





STARTERS


Vegetable Crudité


Deviled Eggs


Spinach Dip in a Pumpernickel with Cocktail Pumpernickel


Eggplant Salad with Pita Triangles


MAIN COURSE %26amp; SIDE DISHES





Assorted Mini and Wrap Sandwiches in a Basket


Penne With Roasted Peppers and Asparagus


Golden Potato Salad


Tomato, Mozzarella, Grilled Zucchini with Balsamic Drizzle


Mandarin Jade Salad





DESSERT





Heart Shaped Cake


(Yellow with Strawberry Mousse and Fresh Strawberries)


Baby Carriage Fruit Display


Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies


Coffee %26amp; Assorted Teas





OR





Crunchy Vanilla-Almond French Toast with Fancy Fruit Topping, Sweet-n-Smoky Bacon Recipe


30 Minute Meals





Bacon:


1 pounds applewood smoked bacon


1/2 cup dark brown sugar


Toast:


8 large eggs


1 cup half-and-half


2 teaspoons vanilla extract


2 pinches salt


1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground or freshly grated


2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


3 cups corn flakes, lightly crushed


1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly crushed


4 tablespoons butter


12 (1 1/2-inch-thick) slices challah bread or soft "Italian" style bread


Medium or dark amber maple syrup to pass at table


Mint sprigs and edible flowers, suggested plate garnish





Fancy Fruit Topping:


1 large navel orange, peeled and chopped


12 large strawberries, sliced


1/2 pint blueberries


1/2 pint raspberries


1/2 pint blackberries


2 tablespoons sugar


1/4 cup orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)





Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


Arrange bacon on slotted broiler pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and place in oven to bake until crisp, 20 to 22 minutes.





Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.





In a shallow dish, beat together with a wire whisk: eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon. In a second shallow dish combine flakes and nuts. Add 2 tablespoons butter to warm skillet. Place a cookie sheet lined with foil (for easy clean-up) near the stove. Coat 4 to 6 slices of bread in egg, depending on the size of your skillet, then coat bread in cornflakes and nuts. Cook slices 2 minutes on each side and transfer toast to cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining slices and transfer toast to oven. Bake 10 minutes, with already cooking bacon.





While bacon and toast are in oven, combine fruit, sugar and liqueur in a serving bowl and reserve.





Remove toast and bacon from oven. Warm syrup in a small pitcher in microwave 15 seconds on high. Serve toast and bacon on plates with optional garnish of mint and edible flowers.





Pass syrup and topping at the table.





OR





Mini Open-Faced Corn Cake and Salmon Salad Sandwich with Beluga Caviar Recipe





For the Corn Cakes:


2 tablespoons olive oil


1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels, from 1 medium-size ear


2 tablespoons minced shallots


1 teaspoon salt


1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


2 large eggs


1 cup heavy cream


3/4 cup yellow cornmeal


1/2 cup bleached all-purpose flour


1/2 cup masa harina flour


2 teaspoons baking powder


1/8 teaspoon cayenne


3/4 cup water


2 teaspoons vegetable oil


1 teaspoon Creole Seasoning, recipe follows


For the Salmon Salad:


1 (8-ounce) house-smoked salmon fillet, skin off


6 large hard-boiled eggs


1 tablespoon capers, finely minced


1 teaspoon caper juice


1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise


Salt


Freshly ground white pepper


1 (7-ounce) tin Beluga Caviar


2 tablespoons chopped chives





For the Corn Cakes: Heat the olive oil in a medium-size saute pan over medium heat. Add the corn, shallots, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper and cook, stirring, until the corn and shallots are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Combine the eggs and cream in a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend well. Add the cornmeal, flour, masa harina, baking powder, cayenne, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the water. Mix well. Fold in the corn-and-shallot mixture. Heat 1/2 teaspoon of the vegetable oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, gently drop the batter, 1 tablespoon at a time, into the pan. You can cook about 8 cakes at a time. Cook until the cakes are lightly golden on both sides, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Repeat until all of the oil and the batter are used up. Drain the cakes on paper towels. Sprinkle with the Creole seasoning.


For the Salmon Salad: In a mixing bowl, flake the salmon into small pieces. Chop the eggs and add to the salmon. Add the capers and caper juice. Mix well. Stir in enough mayonnaise to desired consistency. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper.





To assemble, spread a tablespoon of the salmon salad over each corncake. Place on a large platter. Top the salmon with the caviar. Garnish with chives.





2 1/2 tablespoons paprika


2 tablespoons salt


2 tablespoons garlic powder


1 tablespoon black pepper


1 tablespoon onion powder


1 tablespoon cayenne pepper


1 tablespoon dried oregano


1 tablespoon dried thyme





Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Yield: 2/3 cup





Hope these ideals help you.|||Baby Shower Menu Idea


All the following baby shower menu and Brunch ideas can be found in our baby shower e-book with descriptive pictures. This is only a ssample of the information that we supply in our ebook.





Every baby shower should have a special cake. You can purchase cakes from your local grocery store or bakery, order one online, or make the cake yourself.











By serving food, you create an environment that is relaxing and comfortable. The guests can gather around and mingle while enjoying a full sit down meal or simple finger foods. No matter which option you choose, the treats are what make the baby shower complete.





Typically, you would see foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables with some type of dip, finger sandwiches, nuts, cake, and punch or some type of beverage. Now, you can create whatever type of menu you like but you want primarily food that will appeal to the average person. We will first provide some ideas for regular foods and beverages, followed by amazing but easy to make baby cakes.





FRUITS AND VEGETABLES


Melon Bowl


Baby showers held in the summertime are perfect occasions for fresh melon. While fruit salads are excellent options, you can step it up a notch by creating a festive mellow bowl. For this, you will need a large seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew.





Start by cutting the watermelon lengthwise about one-quarter of the way from the top. Then, use a melon ball to scoop out the insides. Place the formed balls in a bowl and place them in the refrigerator while you finish the melon bowl.





Smooth out the center and then drain off any juice. You can leave the edges of the watermelon flat or use a serrated knife to create a zigzag design. Next, cut the cantaloupes and honey dews in half, removing the seeds. Again, use your melon ball to create balls from the insides. Add these balls to the bowl of watermelon and chill.





Then, gently toss the various types of melon balls together to make a beautiful colored array of melon and place the balls back into the watermelon. If you like, you can add miniature marshmallows, strawberries, raisins, pineapple, oranges, apples, etc. Chill until ready to serve.





Veggie Platters


Many people enjoy munching on fresh vegetables while at a baby shower. This type of food is something that can be enjoyed throughout the event and it is healthy. Veggie platters are extremely easy to make.





Simply purchase cut up carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. For dip, you can use bottled ranch salad dressing or any prepared type of dip you like. For a nice presentation, arrange the tray with varying colored vegetables, placing the dip in the center.





FINGER FOODS


Tortilla Rolls


This appetizer is always popular and can be made in a number of ways. Some people will choose to offer tortilla rolls in place of finger sandwiches although they also make a great additional treat.





To make this food, you will need large flour tortillas, chopped green chilies, chopped green onion, soft cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Mix all of the ingredients except the tortillas.





Spread the mixture on top of the flour tortilla, making sure it is the same thickness all around and spread out to the edges. Then, roll the tortilla up and slice in one-inch pieces. Arrange the tortilla rolls on a plate, adding a small dish of chili power seasoned sour cream and another dish of salsa for dipping.





The nice thing about tortilla rolls is that you can make them of anything you like. For instance, you could use sour cream, dill, and salmon, chicken and chesses, humus and vegetables, and even fresh fruit and cream cheese rolls.











FOOD TIPS


Since this type of shower usually involves a pregnant woman or one that is nursing, not all foods and beverages are acceptable. The following are a few tips of things to consider when create the menu.





When possible, use soft cheeses such as Camembert and Brie. The reason is that soft cheese is not as acidic as hard cheese. Because of this, less moisture is held, greatly reducing the potential for harmful bacteria. Since Listeria is a problem with hard cheese that could put an unborn baby at risk, you want to avoid them.








Pregnant women should not eat more than 12 ounces of fish within a week’s time due to mercury levels. Therefore, if you plan to serve fish, avoid King Mackerel, Tuna, Tile Fish, Swordfish, and Shark. If you want to serve fish, you would do best by serving saltwater fish instead of freshwater fish.








Always make sure any meat is cooked completely to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. Although Sushi is delicious, this is not a dish for pregnant or nursing moms.








Prior to setting the menu, ask the mother-to-be if she is allergic to any foods.








Some pregnant women become nauseated with certain foods, which varies from one pregnancy to another. Therefore, always find out if the expectant mother has any foods that upset her stomach.








Avoid serving alcohol at the baby shower.|||Allaza


Caviar|||What world needs now is Rum sweet Rum. Thats the only beverage worth downing.

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